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Maharashtra braces for cyclone Shakhti, heavy rain and flood warning issued
Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg are on alert for heavy rain as cyclone ‘Shakhti’ approaches Maharashtra.
Cyclone Shakhti is set to impact parts of Maharashtra with high to moderate cyclone warning between October 3 and 7, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.
Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg are on alert for the rough weather conditions. The wind speed, reaching 45-55 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph, is likely to prevail over the North Maharashtra coast between October 3 and 5.
Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea as high speed winds with very rough sea conditions are expected along the northern Maharashtra coast until October 5
The weathermen also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the interior parts of Maharashtra, particularly in East Vidarbha and parts of Marathwada which may cause flooding in the low-lying areas of North Konkan due to intense cloud formation and infiltration of moisture into the atmosphere.
The Maharashtra government has issued instructions for preparation in response to the cyclone 'Shakhti' warning as Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Pune and Ratnagiri are on ‘yellow alert’.
District administrations should activate their disaster management systems, prepare evacuation plans for citizens in coastal and low-lying areas, issue public advisories, advise against sea travel, and maintain safety during heavy rains.
Cyclone Shakhti will be the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea and is packing a wind speed of 100 kmph and gusting, news agency PTI reported, citing officials on Saturday.
Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough along and off the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and the Pakistan coast until Sunday.
The cyclone warning comes less than a week after Maharashtra was lashed by heavy rains with Mumbai, Thane and Raigad put on red alert.
The IMD had earlier said that Maharashtra was braced for above-normal rainfall in October. During a virtual press conference addressed by Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of meteorology, IMD, the department issued its monthly probabilistic forecast for rainfall and temperature in October.
(With agency inputs)
